# Drake Diener

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**Drake Richard Diener** (born December 19, 1981) is an American former professional [basketball](/source/Basketball) player and [coach](/source/Basketball_coach). He played [college basketball](/source/College_basketball) at [DePaul University](/source/DePaul_Blue_Demons_men's_basketball).

## College career

Diener joined the [DePaul Blue Demons](/source/DePaul_Blue_Demons_men's_basketball) in 2001, where he was nominated best player on the team in two consecutive years. In 2005, Diener was diagnosed with [Crohn's disease](/source/Crohn's_disease).[1] He underwent two surgical operations that took him off the court for one year.

## Professional career

In June 2006, Diener signed his first professional contract, with Ignis Castelletto Ticino of the [Italian Second Division](/source/Legadue_Basket).[2] Thanks to a good season there, in the following year he signed with [Orlandina Basket](/source/Orlandina_Basket), of the [Italian First Division](/source/Lega_Basket_Serie_A). In February 2008, he signed with [Montepaschi Siena](/source/Mens_Sana_Basket).[3] During that season in [Siena](/source/Siena), Diener contributed to the team's championship in the Italian League, and a 3rd-place finish in the [2008 EuroLeague Final Four](/source/2008_EuroLeague_Final_Four). In October 2008, Diener signed a one-year deal with [Scandone Avellino](/source/S.S._Felice_Scandone), where he again had the chance to play in the [EuroLeague](/source/EuroLeague).[4]

In July 2009, Diener signed a two-year deal with [Teramo Basket](/source/Teramo_Basket).[5] During his stay in [Abruzzo](/source/Abruzzo), he enjoyed great success, confirming himself as one of the best players in the Italian League, and being the main contributor to [Teramo's](/source/Teramo_Basket) remaining in the [Italian top division](/source/Lega_Basket_Serie_A).

In July 2011, he signed a one-year deal with [Dinamo Sassari](/source/Dinamo_Sassari), where he reunited with his cousin, and former [NBA](/source/NBA) point guard [Travis Diener](/source/Travis_Diener).[6] In June 2012, he re-signed with Sassari, for one more season.[7] In July 2013, he again re-signed with Sassari, that time for two years.[8]

On March 16, 2014, Diener scored 44 points against [Reyer Venezia Mestre](/source/Venice), marking his career high.[9] He helped his team to win the [Italian Cup](/source/Italian_Basketball_Cup) in 2014. He was also named [the regular season MVP](/source/Lega_Basket_Serie_A_MVP) of the [2013–14 Italian League season](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_Lega_Basket_Serie_A).[10] In June 2014, he left Dinamo Sassari.[11]

On July 23, 2014, Diener signed with [Pallacanestro Reggiana](/source/Pallacanestro_Reggiana). He was released by the club on June 30, 2015.[12][13][14] On August 23, 2015, Diener signed with [CAI Zaragoza](/source/Basket_Zaragoza_2002), of the Spanish top-tier level [Liga ACB](/source/Liga_ACB).[15] On December 29, 2015, he parted ways with Zaragoza, after averaging 6.1 points per game in the ACB.[16]

On July 13, 2016, Diener signed with [Orlandina Basket](/source/Orlandina_Basket), for the [2016–17 Italian League season](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_LBA_season).[17] On June 26, 2017, Diener signed with [Vanoli Cremona](/source/Guerino_Vanoli_Basket).[18]

## Coaching career

On April 30, 2018, Diener was named the men's basketball [head coach](/source/Head_coach) at [NCAA Division III](/source/NCAA_Division_III) school [Marian University, in Fond du Lac, WI](/source/Marian_University_(Wisconsin)).[19] He replaced Mark Boyle, who spent 30 years leading the Sabres.

## Personal

Diener suffered from [Crohn's disease](/source/Crohn's_disease).[1] During his 2 years in [Teramo](/source/Teramo), he earned the nickname of "Il Drago" (the Dragon), due to the similar sound of his first name to the Italian word. His cousin [Travis Diener](/source/Travis_Diener), also played with [Dinamo Sassari](/source/Dinamo_Sassari). His brother-in-law, Andy Schmidt, was an All Conference wide Receiver for the Fond du Lac Cardinals.[20]

## References

1. [Demon of a time](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/02/06/demon-of-a-time/)

1. ["Drake Diener to Play in Italy."](https://web.archive.org/web/20081210053324/http://depaul.scout.com/2/543553.html). Archived from [the original](http://depaul.scout.com/2/543553.html) on 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2014-07-23.

1. [Montepaschi Siena signs combo guard Drake Diener.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/)

1. [Avellino tabs Drake Diener.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/)

1. [Diener lands in Teramo.](http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/78141/diener-lands-in-teramo.html)

1. [Dinamo Sassari announces Drake Diener.](http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/87554/dinamo-sassari-announces-drake-diener.html)

1. [Dinamo Sassari officially keeps Travis and Drake Diener.](http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/92209/dinamo-sassari-officially-keeps-travis-and-drake-diener.html)

1. [Dinamo Sassari officially re-signed Drake Diener.](http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/103151/dinamo-sassari-officially-re-signed-drake-diener.html)

1. [Watch all of Drake Diener's buckets in his 44-points showcase.](http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/114129/watch-all-of-drake-diener-s-buckets-in-his-44-points-showcase.html)

1. ["Serie A, Drake Diener l'Mvp della stagione"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140808190941/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/2014/05/15-361331/Serie+A,+Drake+Diener+l%26apos%3BMvp+della+stagione) (in Italian). Archived from [the original](http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/2014/05/15-361331/Serie+A,+Drake+Diener+l%26apos%3BMvp+della+stagione) on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-07-23.

1. [Drake Diener to leave Banco di Sardegna Sassari.](http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/123641/drake-diener-to-leave-banco-di-sardegna-sassari.html)

1. [DRAKE DIENER E' BIANCOROSSO](http://www.pallacanestroreggiana.it/pagina.php?id=4625&n=DRAKE+DIENER+E%27+BIANCOROSSO) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140729172918/http://www.pallacanestroreggiana.it/pagina.php?id=4625&n=DRAKE+DIENER+E%27+BIANCOROSSO) July 29, 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Italian)

1. [Drake Diener officially signs with Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia.](http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/128687/drake-diener-officially-signs-with-grissin-bon-reggio-emilia.html)

1. [Drake Diener is released from Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia.](http://www.pallacanestroreggiana.it/pagina.php?id=5408&n=ESERCITATA%20L%27OPZIONE%20DI%20USCITA%20SUL%20CONTRATTO%20DI%20DRAKE%20DIENER) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150702020258/http://www.pallacanestroreggiana.it/pagina.php?id=5408&n=ESERCITATA%20L%27OPZIONE%20DI%20USCITA%20SUL%20CONTRATTO%20DI%20DRAKE%20DIENER) July 2, 2015 at the Wayback Machine (in Italian)

1. [Drake Diener signs with CAI Zaragoza.](http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/173596/drake-diener-signs-with-cai-zaragoza.html)

1. [Drake Diener, CAI Zaragoza officially part ways.](http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/186344/drake-diener-cai-zaragoza-officially-part-ways.html)

1. [Orlandina Basket signs Drake Diener.](http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/206155/orlandina-basket-signs-drake-diener.html)

1. [Vanoli Cremona signs Drake Diener.](http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a2-ovest/238534/vanoli-cremona-signs-drake-diener.html)

1. ["Diener tabbed as next Marian men's basketball coach - Marian University"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180510050926/http://www.sabreathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20180430l5hg6g). *www.sabreathletics.com*. 30 April 2018. Archived from [the original](http://www.sabreathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20180430l5hg6g) on 2018-05-10. Retrieved 2018-05-09.

1. ["Football – All Time FRVC & FVA All Conference Teams"](https://www.cardinalathleticalumni.com/football-all-time-frvc-fva-all-conference-teams/). 22 March 2020.

## External links

- [Euroleague.net profile](http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=000754#!careerstats)
- [Lega Basket Serie A profile](http://195.56.77.208/player/?id=DIE-DRA-81) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120419055203/http://195.56.77.208/player/?id=DIE-DRA-81) 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine (in Italian)
- [Spanish ACB League profile](http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=FPX) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150902211340/http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=FPX) 2015-09-02 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- [Eurobasket.com profile](http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Drake_Diener/Italy/Grissin_Bon_Reggio_Emila/36303)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Drake Diener](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_Diener) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_Diener?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.